Parama Ekadashi Vrat Katha

Yudhishthira asked Shri Krishna about the Ekadashi of the dark fortnight of the Adhik maas. Krishna said that it is called Parama, the highest, that it removes sin and poverty, and told this story.

In the city of Kampilya lived a Brahmin named Sumedha with his wife Pavitra. Sumedha was learned and righteous, and Pavitra was devoted to her husband and generous to guests. But because of some deed in a past life they were very poor. Often they had nothing to eat, and still Pavitra would feed a guest and go hungry herself.

Seeing his wife's hardship, Sumedha said one day: "We cannot live like this. Let me go to another land to earn money." Pavitra replied humbly: "What we receive comes from our own past deeds. Wherever you go, only what is in our fate will come. Let us stay here and live by dharma, and trust in the Lord." So they stayed.

One day the great sage Kaundinya came to their door. The couple welcomed him with joy, gave him a seat and served him with whatever little they had. Then they asked him how their poverty might end.

The sage said: "In the dark fortnight of the Adhik maas comes Parama Ekadashi. Keep its fast with devotion. It was by keeping this fast that Kubera became the lord of wealth, and that King Harishchandra won back his wife, his son and his kingdom." He also taught them the Panchratri vow, a fast of five days beginning on this Ekadashi, which brings great merit.

Sumedha and Pavitra kept the Parama Ekadashi fast and the five-day vow as the sage had taught them. By the Lord's grace their poverty ended, their home was filled with grain and wealth, and they lived happily and righteously, and in the end reached the Lord's abode.

Shri Krishna said that whoever keeps this fast is freed from poverty and sin.